Golf club strike indicator

Abstract

A self-adhesive indicator which adheres to a golf club face to provide an indication of the point of impact of the golf ball on the club face is provided. It consists of a sandwich of various layers--a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive on the bottom, followed by a layer of energy-absorbing elastomeric material on which is provided a film of a thermochromic material such as a temperature sensitive liquid crystal, followed by a top layer of clear high impact plastic.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device (30) for providing a temporary indication (34) of the area of impact of a ball, such as a golf ball, on a ball-striking face, such as a golf club face, said device having an inner surface for adherence to said ball-striking face and an outer impact surface, said inner surface of said device comprising means for removably securing said device to said ball striking face, characterized in that said device further comprises: a) a sheet (31) of light transmitting, hard, durable material sized to fit on said ball-striking face, having first and second surfaces, said first surface forming said outer impact surface of said device; and   b) a layer of thermochromic material provided on said second surface of said sheet (31) of light transmitting, hard durable material.   
     
     
       2. A device (30) for providing a temporary indication of the area of impact of a ball, such as a golf ball, on a ball-striking face, such as a golf club face, said device having an inner surface for adherence to said ball-striking face and an outer impact surface, said inner surface of said device comprising means for removably securing said device to said ball striking face, characterized in that said device further comprises: a) a sheet (31) of light transmitting, hard durable material sized to fit on said ball-striking face, having first and second surfaces, said first surface forming said outer impact surface of said device;   b) a sheet (35) of energy-absorbing elastomeric material having an outer and an inner surface and sized to fit on said golf club face; and   c) a layer of thermochromic material sandwiched between said second surface of said sheet (31) of light transmitting, hard durable material and said outer surface of said sheet (35) of energy-absorbing elastomeric material.   
     
     
       3. The device of claims 1 or 2 wherein said layer of thermochromic material is a layer of temperature sensitive liquid crystal. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 3 wherein said temperature sensitive liquid crystal has a temperature response in the range 5 degrees C. to 40 degrees C. 
     
     
       5. The device of claims 1 or 2 wherein said sheet (31) of light transmitting, hard durable material is a high impact plastic. 
     
     
       6. The device of claims 1 or 2 wherein said means for removably securing said device to said ball striking face comprises a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim 6 further comprising a removable flexible protective sheet (37) adhered to and covering said layer of pressure sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
       8. The device of claims 1 or 2 further comprising a light absorbing layer between said layer of thermochromic material and said means for removably securing said device to said ball striking face. 
     
     
       9. The device of claim 8 wherein said light absorbing layer is black. 
     
     
       10. The device of claim 8 wherein said light absorbing layer is a dark paint. 
     
     
       11. The device of claim 2 further comprising a light absorbing layer between said layer of thermochromic material and said means for removably securing said device to said ball striking face wherein said light absorbing layer is adhered to said outer surface of said sheet (35) of energy-absorbing elastomeric material. 
     
     
       12. The device of claim 2 wherein said means for removably securing said device to said ball striking face comprises a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive provided on said inner surface of said sheet (35) of energy-absorbing elastomeric material. 
     
     
       13. The device of claim 2 wherein said sheet (35) of energy-absorbing elastomeric material is a high hysteresis elastomeric foam having a thickness in the range 0.8 mm to 3.2 mm. 
     
     
       14. The device of claims 1 or 2 wherein said sheet (31) of light transmitting, hard durable material is provided with markings to locate a preferred area of impact for a predetermined ball-striking face. 
     
     
       15. The device of claims 1 or 2 wherein said sheet (31) of light transmitting, hard durable material is textured.